OTHER VIEWS. THE READERS HAVE THEIR SAY.

Unfair comparisons

March 04, 2006|By Andy Stavrou.

GENEVA — Mike Downey failed to make an important distinction between Frank Thomas and Sammy Sosa (Tribune, Feb. 28). While it's true they have burned a bridge or two here, it's unfair to generalize beyond that.

Thomas put up Hall of Fame numbers for the Sox, got cheated out of an MVP award in 2000, which would have been his third, by a juiced Jason Giambi and loved the Sox to a fault. It was only because Thomas wanted to finish his career here that things got ugly.

Sosa, on the other hand, got to be a hero in the days before steroids were under any sort of control. Once that changed his offensive numbers and neck size got very ordinary. On top of that, he deserted the Cubs and unfairly trashed Dusty Baker.

As a lifelong White Sox fan I sincerely hope that, given time, the rift between the White Sox and Frank Thomas can be get mended. It would be a great and deserved tribute to a truly great player to have a day in his honor at the Cell once his playing days are over.